Locking mechanism for reverse gears of locomotives



July 21, 1931. W, HARWARD 1,815,301

LOCKING MECHANISM FOR REVERSE GEARS OF LOCOMOTIVES Filed July 3, 1928 gnventoz 5. M Harwa rd Patented July 21, 1931 UNETED, STATES GEORGE W. HARWARD, OF ELDON, IOWA LOCKING MECHANISM FOR REVERSE GEARS F LOCOMOTIVES Application filed July 3,

This invention relates to a locking mecha nism for the reverse gear of a locomotive, and it is an object of the invention to provide a mechanism of this kind which effectively lockssuch mechanism in position and which operates substantially in an automatic man ner.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind which operates to hold the valve gear in a firm and steady position so that there will be no waste of power due to unsteady movement of the valve gear.

The invention consists in the details of construction. and in the combination and arrangement of the severalparts ofmy improved locking mechanism for the reverse gear of a locomotive whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

' In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation and of a. diagrammatic character illustrating a look ing mechanism constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in section and partly in elevation illustrating the valve as comprised in my improved mechanism and a portion of the operating means therefor;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the valve member in a second position;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in section and partly in elevation i1 lustrating in detail the means as herein embodied for directly operating the locking block.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, 1 denotes a reverse rod comprised in the conventional type of gear reversing mechanisms for locomotives, and 2 denotes the releasing reverse lever operated in a well known manner by the reversing gear through the medium of the link or bar 3. The lever 2 may 1928. Serial No. 290,164.

be pivotally mounted at 2 to any desired portion of the locomotive. Supported in any de sired manner by the locomotive above the reverse rod 1 is a cylinder C. The cylinder is supported by a bracket 4 which provides a guide for the locking block 5. The lower or working face of this block 5 is provided with the teeth 6 adapted to interlock with the toothed rack 7 carried by the rod 1. This block 5 is secured to and movable with a rod 8 which extends upwardly within the cylinder G through the lower end thereof and carried by the upper or inserted end of the rod 8 is a piston P which is snugly engaged within the cylinder C for rectilinear movement therein. This piston P is constantly urged upwardly within the cylinder C through the instrumentality of a coil spring 9 encircling the rod 8 between the piston P and the lower head of the cylinder 0.

\Vhen the piston P is moved upwardly under the action of the spring 9, the locking block 5 is moved upwardly a distance to free the teeth 6 thereof from the rack 7 and at which time the reversing gear proper is in release. Rotatably positioned within the cab of a locomotive, or otherwise as may be desired, is vertically disposed elongated valve cylinder V from which leads an air line 10 discharging within the cylinder C above the piston P. Also leading from the cylinder V at a point in relatively close proximity to the pipe line 10 is a pipe linell in communication with a suitable source of air under pressure. At a point spaced longitudinally of the cylinder C and in close proximity to the line 11 is an exhaust port or line 12.

Working within the cylinder V is an elongated valve member M, the major portion of which snugly fitting within the cylinder V with an intermediate portion 14 materially reduced in diameter, said reduced portion being of a length when the valve member M is moved upwardly to permit the pressure within the' cylinder C above the piston P to exhaust out through the lines 10 and 12 and-when moved in the opposite direction to close the exhaust through the line 12 and to open-the, line 11 to permitrequisite air pressure to be delivered within the cylinder C to force the piston P downwardly to bring the locking block 5 into desired engagement with the rod 1, or more particularly the rack 7 carried thereby.

The upper end of the valve member M is provided with an upstanding stem 15, the outer end portion of, which being disposed at all times beyond the upper end of the cylinder V, and said upper and extended end portion of the stem 15 is provided with an arcuate cross member or head 16', the outbow of which being upwardly disposed. In contact with the cross head or member 16 is a reversely curved arcuate cross member 17 carried by the lower end portions of the arms hers 2O engaged with the adjacent portion of the lever 2. Operatively engaged with the central portion of the head or member 17 is arod 21 also operatively engaged with the swinging latch 22 carried by the upper end or handle portion of the lever 2.

The heads or members: 16 and 17 have rolling contact one with respect to the other and are maintained in, such contact by an expansible member 23, preferably acoi'l spring, interposed between the lower or inserted end portion of the valve member M and a plate 24: arranged within the cylinder V closely adjacent to its lower or closed end 25. This plate 2 1 is associated with a headed member or shank 26 threaded through the lower or closed end 2 5 of thecylinderV and provides meanswhereby upon proper manipulation of the member or shank 26 the tension of the member or spring 23 may be regulated as required. The reverse-lever 2 is pivotally secured to a pivot or pintle 2 which is outstanding from a support 27 carried by the cab. or housing on the locomotive.

\Vith the valve member M in a position as illustrated in Figure 2 air under pressureis free to pass into the cylinder C above the p1s ton P and maintain the block 5 in looking engagementwith the rod 1; whereby the rod 1 18 held rigid in any position it may be'placed by the reversing gear and, as is believed to be clearly apparent to those skilledin the art to which the present invention appertains, such locking of the rod 1 will hold the valye yoke in a rigid position, thus doing-away with that creepy and vibrating movement which is so detrimental to its tractive effort and which has a tendency to cause doubling of hills in many instances. It also obviates the tendency of' the valve creeping back and forth during travel of; the high speed locomotive as a result of vibration, pulling valves, etc.

l/Vhen desired to release the rod 1 so that proper manipulation of the lever 2 will operate the reversing gear, the engineman imposes pull upon the latch 22 resulting in the elevation of the member or head 17 with a resultant upward movement of the valve member M under the influence of the expansible member or spring 23. This upward movement of the member M is of an extent to permit the lower portion of the valve memher to close the flow from the pipe line 11 through the cylinder C and opens the exhaust line 12 whereupon the air pressure within the cylinder C above the piston P and in the line 10 will readily exhaust, thus permitting the member or spring 9 to force the piston P within the cylinder C a distance suiiicient to disengage the block 5 from the rack 7 carried by the rod 1.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a locking mechanism for the reverse gear of a locomotive constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is su ceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim The combination withthe'rod and operating. lever comprised in a reverse gear mechanism, of a slidable valve, an intake pipe, an exhaust pipe, a discharge pipe, and locking means connected to said discharge pipe, said valve comprising an elongated cylinder having an intake port, an exhaust port and a discharge port, a pair of spaced pistons in said cylinder, said pistons being arranged for movement within the cylinder to automatically close the exhaust port when the pistons are urged downwardly and to automatically open the exhaust port and close the intake port when the pistons are urged upwardly, a stemsecured to one of said pistons, an arcuate head disposed across the outer end of said stem, a complementary arcuate member slidably mounted on said operating lever, and adjustable spring engaging means in said cylinder, said engaging means being adapted to urge the cylinders upwardly to maintain slidable contact between the arcuate members.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

GEORGE W. HARIVARD.

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